Anyone Uses Elance.com? Guru.com? Rentacoder.com?

[OmnivoreInk]

That usually translates into 5-10 bids which would be fine, but many people who post jobs never reply. A writer used to pay much less - if they paid a year in advance and we had about 60 bids per month. A provider can buy more "credits" if needed. If you win a job, elance takes an additional fee which I think is 8.75%.
Shri

This is what really irks me. It's like the 80/20 rule - only 20% of the people who post jobs actually award someone a job. The rest of them don't - whether it was because they were just shopping for info or because they didn't like the price quoted, or whatever.

Yet we providers lose connects (or credits) that cost *us* money!

Similarly, if there's a gig there, but you need more info before you can decide if you want to bid - just asking for that info costs you a connect! That's ridiculous!

Seems to me -- and I know Elance doesn't care what I think - the fee they charge me for any job I do should be more than enough to offset their operating fees, charging people for any bid they make - which is in essence what they do - is usury!

[litekepr]

That usually translates into 5-10 bids which would be fine, but many people who post jobs never reply. A writer used to pay much less - if they paid a year in advance and we had about 60 bids per month. A provider can buy more "credits" if needed. If you win a job, elance takes an additional fee which I think is 8.75%.
Shri

This is what really irks me. It's like the 80/20 rule - only 20% of the people who post jobs actually award someone a job. The rest of them don't - whether it was because they were just shopping for info or because they didn't like the price quoted, or whatever.

Yet we providers lose connects (or credits) that cost *us* money!

Similarly, if there's a gig there, but you need more info before you can decide if you want to bid - just asking for that info costs you a connect! That's ridiculous!

Seems to me -- and I know Elance doesn't care what I think - the fee they charge me for any job I do should be more than enough to offset their operating fees, charging people for any bid they make - which is in essence what they do - is usury!

Connects - that's what they call them. I wish I saw 20% being awarded - actually, I'd like to see a much higher percentage of jobs being awarded. I take the opportunity to tell buyers what we are being charged - those fees have to be passed along - and you know Elance won't admit they cheat their providers. I'm with you - charge one fee or the other, but both is ridiculous. If they only got paid a percentage when we got jobs - they would be more motivated to make the system work. But, with every provider paying $9.95 a month - they don't need us to win any jobs. Its a shame they are the biggest freelance site.

Shri

[bennyboy7]

I'm certainly not getting rich, but paying the mortgage is a necessity

- Tell me about it! Houses in the Uk are crazee prices!

Ready more about these sites I think I will stick with what I know! Hits from Google, recommendations, sales letters, cold calling, that sort of thing- seems less work for more return without outlaying costs just to bid for work!

[OmnivoreInk]

Hits from Google, recommendations, sales letters, cold calling, that sort of thing- seems less work for more return without outlaying costs just to bid for work!

Wa-ell... on the other hand if you strike gold - a buyer who likes your work and takes you off elance to work for him or her full time .... then the money you gave to Elance would seem well worth it.

I just got a long-term sportswriting gig today that is going to pay out a considerable sum over the course of a year should it work out (fingers crossed) ... after a month of giving my client good work and having him paying me with no problem -- I'll try nudging him to start paying me through paypal. 3% fee instead of 8.9% fee - that's a hefty savings! Yet I doubt if I'd ever have gotten the gig if I hadn't been signed up with Elance to begin with... [and if I hadn't been writing my sports blog which I kept updated and sent possible employers to, so they could see my writing skills in that area - blogging has certainly paid off for me now!)

[bennyboy7]

I'll take it back - very true, build the relationship and get rid of Elance, but are you both in contract with Elance and could be fined (or this just per project?) - not sure how it works, but theres usually loads of small print?

[bennyboy7]

off topic just clicked your footer...

http://winged-victory.com - Women in aviation webzine

I just designed a logo, exhibition panels and leaflets for http://www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk/

Very interest project.

[litekepr]

I'll take it back - very true, build the relationship and get rid of Elance, but are you both in contract with Elance and could be fined (or this just per project?) - not sure how it works, but theres usually loads of small print?

It is against their policy, but it happens a lot. Their system makes it very attractive to leave them. Elance used to discount their fee for repeat work, but they got rid of that too. Unless you do a LOT of work in a certain period of time - then they give a discount on their percentage.

It can be a great way to build business relationships - I got some very good projects and did make far more than I paid. But, their fee structure still irritate me Kind of like taxes, the money is never really all yours as long as you are paid through elance

Shri

[bennyboy7]

It can be a great way to build business relationships

I think the above is the key!

[aras12]

I do understand your frustration- I think these two companies are after more money as they have been around for more than 7 years now. They seem not to care anymore about the customers. I have been using them for a while and I guess I had to cancel my subscription- Too many under-skilled consultants bid on projects and in the end projects get canceled.

I recently came across ivoireconsultancy.org which is a business consultancy management site- I send in my CV and apparently they only accept highly skilled professionals- The business have been growing and they are about to launch a new website from the 25 of December 2008 same as Elance, but with new and innovative features. One thing is that people will not bid on projects, but only get invited by buyers depending on your work experience- You do not have to pay to get registered as they do not accept open registration.

I guess we will need more competition from now on.

[litekepr]

It can be a great way to build business relationships

I think the above is the key!

Problem is that you have to deal with all the stupid things on the site. If a person wants to focus on building relationships, seems there should be better places to do it. Like the person above mentioned, you have so many under qualified people bidding on projects and that makes it much more difficult for qualified people who are looking for work. I've seen many projects canceled when there were plenty of qualified people bidding, but you often have to wade through a lot of ridiculous or "form bids". And, the fact that the owners of the company radically changed their rules and undercut the value to providers doesn't help the process either. I got off the site completely and hope that I don't get to a point where I need to go back.

Shri

[jvprosperity]

I've had quite a bit of success on oDesk.com. I've never used Elance so I can't compare.

I like oDesk.com 'cos I get to sort thru people (e.g. within a certain bid range) with a single click. I find their help response very quick and I like the oDesk Team software that "providers" must install. This gives me the Buyer more insight as to what I am paying for. The Team software takes screenshots of the Providers screen on 10 min increments so I can see that the person is infact doing work for me.

[litekepr]

I've had quite a bit of success on oDesk.com. I've never used Elance so I can't compare.

I like oDesk.com 'cos I get to sort thru people (e.g. within a certain bid range) with a single click. I find their help response very quick and I like the oDesk Team software that "providers" must install. This gives me the Buyer more insight as to what I am paying for. The Team software takes screenshots of the Providers screen on 10 min increments so I can see that the person is infact doing work for me.

Can you explain that in more detail??? I may be misunderstanding - but what if they are working on something confidential for another client?? Or, did I completely miss the point

Shri

[jvprosperity]

Can you explain that in more detail??? I may be misunderstanding - but what if they are working on something confidential for another client?? Or, did I completely miss the point

Shri

When I (Buyer A) give them (Provider) an assignment they receive it through the oDesk Team Software. The Provider accesses the assignment and begins work. When the Provider accesses the assignment the understanding is that they are now doing work for me so their work is tracked and submitted to me thru oDesk.

If they access another assignment from someone else (Buyer B) the software will stop billing me and stop taking screenshots for me and will begin to do so for Buyer B.

It's really neat and transparent. I know what I am getting billed for. If I see that they are not infact doing my work but for someone else I can dispute the hours worked (billed time) and oDesk does not pay the Provider until after the issue is mediated.

I hope that clarifies it better....

[David Hurley]

oDesk.com looks interesting. Does anybody have any experience of getting custom software made via Rentacoder.com??

[litekepr]

Can you explain that in more detail??? I may be misunderstanding - but what if they are working on something confidential for another client?? Or, did I completely miss the point

Shri

When I (Buyer A) give them (Provider) an assignment they receive it through the oDesk Team Software. The Provider accesses the assignment and begins work. When the Provider accesses the assignment the understanding is that they are now doing work for me so their work is tracked and submitted to me thru oDesk.

If they access another assignment from someone else (Buyer B) the software will stop billing me and stop taking screenshots for me and will begin to do so for Buyer B.

It's really neat and transparent. I know what I am getting billed for. If I see that they are not infact doing my work but for someone else I can dispute the hours worked (billed time) and oDesk does not pay the Provider until after the issue is mediated.

I hope that clarifies it better....

That does. So, do they do jobs billed by the hour or do they also do jobs for a per project cost??

Shri